Béla Merkely, MD, PhD, MSc, DSc, FESC, FACC

Professor Bela Merkely, MD, PhD, DSc, FESC, FACC, is the rector of Semmelweis University and the director of the Heart and Vascular Center of Semmelweis University. He is board certified in cardiology, obtained his PhD in ventricular arrhythmias, holds a Transthoracic Echocardiography Certification and a Cardiac Pacing and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators Certification. He is a doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Honorary president, and former president of the Hungarian Society of Cardiology. He has held functions in the different bodies and associations of the European Society of Cardiology. He earned numerous awards and honors, including the Széchenyi Prize in 2021 and the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (Commander Cross) in 2016. 

His major research interests are the non-pharmacological treatment of heart failure; new techniques in interventional cardiology; invasive and non-invasive imaging in heart failure; arrhythmias and acute coronary syndromes; sport cardiology and cardiac remodeling of elite athletes. He has authored 835 international and 302 Hungarian scientific publications. His cumulative impact factor is 5900.537, and his independent citations are 67,640.